Tricky trap for Mega

Tricky trap for Mega

Prof. Herbert Feith (The Jakarta Post, May 31, 1999) compared
the founding fathers of Indonesia to the Amien Rais-Megawati
Soekarnoputri team. This is dangerous nonsense. Sukarno-Hatta
were founders of the unitary state. Between 1956 and 1966, I knew
Bung Hatta well and president Sukarno intimately. Prof. Rais
cannot walk in Hatta's shadow. The only ingredient Megawati has
in common with her father is her genes. Her courageous opposition
against the fascist dictator who ousted her father, with the
support of the CIA, will be remembered by history. The top job of
president is one she should leave to more qualified compatriots.
Luring her into the presidency is an obvious trap set by enemies
of Indonesia, the world's most powerful Muslim state.

In the 1980s, Russians called for "Gorby" to reform the
communist dictatorship in much the same way as Indonesians call
for "Mega" to reform of the military dictatorship. The USSR
unitary state was destroyed and with it its economy and power.
Indonesia finds itself on the eve of political and economic
destruction, and vultures from all sides are waiting for their
chance to further divide, steal and grab Indonesia's resources.

Prof. Feith should remember the Sukarno-Hatta partnership
ended in divorce. The Rais-Mega cooperation will never even get
off the ground because of its lack of expertise in international
affairs and its lack of brains, among other things.

Mega will destroy the myth of Sukarno when she fails. In
Pakistan, outside forces destroyed the Bhutto myth by letting
Benazir return, with the final result of her fleeing to London
while her husband lingers in jail. Benazir at least studied law,
but still she failed. In India, the Nehru dynasty is being
destroyed by Sonia Gandhi. If Mega falls into the trap set for
her, she'll destroy the life-work of her father, the unitary
state of Indonesia, Bahasa Indonesia, Pancasila and the country's
initiative in the nonalignment movement in international affairs.
In short, she will step into the shoes of Gorbachev, not Bung
Karno.

WILLEM OLTMANS

Amsterdam